Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Madama Butterfly ★★★★1/2

Written by Giacomo Puccini & Luigi Illica. Opera Australia. Mar 24 – Apr 23, 2023

When it comes to uniquely Sydney spectacles, it’s hard to beat Opera Australia’s Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. The vista alone is breathtaking, then to be serenaded with some of the finest voices and musicians around is utter bliss. But blending spectacle with heart (let alone art) is tougher. 

This revival of La Fura dels Baus’ reimagining of Pucci was last seen in Sydney nine years ago, but hasn’t aged a day. It feels rooted in this particular Harbour-side space, utilising the water, the views and Sydney’s construction-crane strewn skyline as the perfect setting. Even the obligatory fireworks don’t feel gauche. 

Colonisation is at the heart of this tale. Pinkerton takes what he wants, be it the land or a bride, and uses them as he sees fit. His bride, Cio-Cio-San, is merely another pretty possession of his. Just as he sees the landscape as wasted beauty to be developed, Cio-Cio-San is only as useful as her prettiness gives him pleasure. 

Diego Torre, as Pinkerton, is suitably gruff and abrasive. Gluttonous in all aspects of his life. Michael Honeyman as the Consul Sharpless is more compassionate but ultimately just as cruel by seeing the behaviour of Pinkerton but doing nothing about it. Sian Sharp is wonderful Suzuki, Cio-Cio-San’s handmaiden, who serves as our eyes and ears on the sad tale. 

The night clearly belongs to our Madama Butterfly herself, Karah Son who transforms from strong but demure to desperate over the course of the evening. She is a woman wronged by the world, and while her final moments are carefully hidden, her demise is no less impactful. She brings real pathos that cuts through the over-sized staging and views to reach the audience where it matters.

The scale and grandeur of the staging is awe-inspiring. From a bamboo forest on a hilltop, that transforms into a construction site between acts (the act break may be lengthy but when you see them construct a decent sized apartment in 20 min it’s quite remarkable). The size of the operation, and the massive ensemble, are the kind of things most theatres would beg to be able to mount. 

And of course, opening night means lashing of people-watching. From ex-PMs, to reality TV alumni, models and socialites, Sydney turned out the full range of fashions from shorts & t-shirts, black tie and gender-fluid dress. We may not have Melbourne’s levels of couture on show, but it’s good to see Sydney let loose a bit more. 

It’s a testament to the whole operation that while the sound is obviously amplified it never suffered from distortion, to the point where it was easy to sit back and revel in the excellent voices and orchestra. 

Opera Australia’s Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Madama Butterfly is a wonderful, quintessentially Sydney evening of great music, great performance and great Harbour-side vibes. Plus, with Opera Australia’s Miss Saigon just around the corner, it serves as the perfect counterpoint for the culturally inquisitive.